Verse of the Week
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2 (NLT)
On my recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I was there to teach at three conferences. You’d think the lesson on rest would have come at the end, maybe after I collapsed on the plane. Instead, it came right in the middle, because my hosts, Andrew and Dawn, and The Ezra Institute wouldn’t let me skip it.
They gave me a suite, not just a room, and one with a balcony! They insisted on a mid-week sabbath. They fed me like royalty, including my favorite fajitas & chocolate cake, and I enjoyed LOTS of local food. I’ll be staying off the scale for a few weeks.
Here’s what struck me. I didn’t earn any of it. I hadn’t finished the work yet. They simply decided that rest was part of the plan, and they made sure I took it.
That’s exactly what the psalm says. God gives rest to his loved ones. It isn’t a prize for the people who finish their to-do lists. It’s a gift for the people He loves, which means that refusing it isn’t noble, it’s rude. It’s just turning down a present.
So if you’re anxiously working from early morning until late at night this week, consider this your friendly nudge. Busy isn’t best. Take the sabbath, sit on the balcony, and eat the chocolate cake.
Be encouraged,
dan
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